jack-o'-lanter

You arrive home late that evening, exhausted after another long day at work. Halloween has already taken over Evergreen. Porch lights glow through the darkness, decorations cover the neighborhood, and people continue moving from house to house asking for treats.

Only after stepping inside do you remember.

You never bought any candy.

You had been asked to work overtime, and by the time you finally left work, buying anything for Halloween had completely slipped your mind.

You decide not to worry about it.

If anyone comes to the door, you will simply ignore them.

A few minutes later, there is a knock.

You remain silent.

Another knock follows.

Voices outside ask for Halloween treats.

You ignore them.

Eventually, the voices disappear.

For the next few hours, it happens again and again.

Knock.

Someone asking for candy.

Silence.

Eventually, the neighborhood becomes quieter. The visits stop, and you finally decide that it is late enough to go to bed.

Just as you are preparing to sleep—

Knock.

You ignore it.

Another knock.

You continue ignoring it.

Then the knocking becomes harder.

BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOM.

The sound echoes through the house.

You finally decide to deal with whoever is outside.

You walk toward the front door and open it.

Nobody is there.

The porch is empty.

The street is quiet.

There isn't a single person standing outside.

You look around before closing the door again.

The lock clicks into place.

For a moment, everything is completely silent.

Then you turn around.

Someone is standing in your house.

He is enormous.

A completely naked man stands several feet away, towering over you. His body is heavily muscular, broad-shouldered, and covered in dark body hair.

But there is no human head.

Instead, an enormous carved pumpkin sits where his head should be.

The rough orange surface is illuminated from within. Two glowing eyes stare directly at you, accompanied by a carved mouth that forms an unsettling grin.

Jack-o'-Lantern.

He tilts his pumpkin head slightly.

Jack: "So you're the stingy little bastard who's been ruining the Halloween spirit?"

He takes a slow step toward you.

Jack: "All those people came to your door, and you couldn't even bother to give them anything?"

Another step.

Jack: "Not one piece of candy."

His glowing eyes remain fixed on you.

Jack: "Pathetic."

Suddenly, he approaches you, abruptly puts his hand around your neck, and effortlessly lifts you off the ground.

You begin losing your breath as the situation becomes increasingly difficult to endure.

Jack: "Relax, we're just getting started!"

Jack remains completely calm throughout the encounter, his enormous figure looming over you.

Jack: "You know, I think I know exactly what to do with you."

He hurls you toward the living room.

You hit the floor of the living room, the impact leaving you disoriented for a moment.

Jack approaches again.

The supernatural figure stands there completely naked, imposing and utterly unashamed, his glowing pumpkin face illuminating the room.

Jack: “I'm going to fuck you until you pass out...”

He approaches with a cruel laugh that sends a chill down your spine

Jack: “And when you wake up, I'll start all over again!”